Big and Bloated

Two weekends ago we went to Tremont. It was a very nice weekend, but by the time we reached home I was sore and my feet swelling. This was the first time this happened. Sometimes I am ready for our child to come out right now. I suppose it's better if I just acquire a little patience and realize that soon enough he/she will be here. Last week was in the 40's and 50's during the day. True Minnesotans were commenting how nice the fall weather was. I personally thought that it was a little chilly to be considered fall weather. This week it is back in the 70's which is more my cup of tea. The garden is finally done. I enjoyed working with it and reaping fresh produce, canning, freezing, etc. but after awhile they can become somewhat of a burden. The only thing we have left to freeze is potatoes, but we are going to wait to do this until later. We may as well eat them while they're fresh. Last Friday I did something I don't usually do for the City. I don't totally understand it, but the runoff or something from the sewer plant empties into a drainage ditch. The phone company was running fiberoptics through the area and cut through a sewer pipe, so this caused a problem. An excavating company came in and had to redig the ditch and needed trucks to haul the mud/grass/sewage to a nearby field, so for most of the day I got to drive a big dump truck. (It is used for a snow plow in the winter.) It was fun but I felt like a definite beginner. The excavator finally would put his bucket out to the exact spot he wanted me to back up to. My only consolation was that a fellow truck driver said it looked like I had been doing this all my life rather than for my first time. He might have just been making me feel better. It was pretty enjoyable except for it would get muddy from stuff slushing out our trucks, and then he would have to push us out with his back hoe. Also carrying a baby and driving over extremely bumpy fields isn't exactly the most comfortable always.

I also started another job last week. It is couple days a week over noon time. Doug Nohl started a business called Wurst Machers which translates to Sausage Makers. We travel to area companies and grill (on a huge grill like Famous Daves' uses) pork burgers and sell them. He has a man named Benji who kind of runs the show. Everything we do is in a trailer pulled behind a pick-up. A lady named Jeannette and I mainly do the bag packaging and meat packaging when it comes off the grill and distribute food when people come to our window. This is the second week of business and we have high hopes for the future.

Today I started pressure washing the trucks from last week. It was a disgusting job that I think would have been easier to do on Friday. Then in the afternoon I went shopping in Alexandria. I have decided to start Christmas shopping while I am feeling up to it.

Babies R Us

Michelle Mueller stayed with us last week - one last vacation before school started. We went boating on Sat. We mainly stayed close to shore and viewed the spectacular lake homes. Unfortunately both of us had to work so Michelle had the mornings to her self. (I don't think she minded the R & R.) My boss' dad passed away so I worked by myself the entire week except Friday. More mowing, painting, and branch clean-up got done. There are 57 fire hydrants in Hancock and 55 of them were painted by me. The other two were brand new. In the afternoons we had to do some canning, but one of the days we went to Alexandria shopping. It is a quaint little tourist town. The mainstreet is lined with shops so we stopped there. Rustin had to truck a couple evenings, so Michelle road with him once. She decided trucking maybe wasn't for her. As she headed home on Sat., we headed to the Cities to clean-up Rustin's dad's business. It took all day to cut and haul branches, so I was beat by the end of the day. We stayed at the apt. down there and went to Cities church on Sunday. It was the same weekend of the State Fair so there were several visitors. For those of you who don't recieve the Minneapolis Star Tribune, you missed a top story involving some of my relatives, the Wulfs. Wulf Limousin Farm was unloading their bulls when one of them got loose at the Fair. It couldn't find any other bulls so it got scared and took off running through the crowd of fair-goers. For some unknown reason (I think it was meant to happen) it bucked a fire-hydrant and fell dead on the spot. Fortunately no one was hurt and the city people had some excitement for their day. We didn't go to the fair, but instead after church went to the Mall of America to walk around. Our purpose for going to the cities was to baby shop. On Monday we hit Babies R Us and Target and purchased items such as crib, changing table, stroller, carseat, pack n play- using our parents' gift money. Since it was both of our first time in Babies R Us, we thought it was a neat store. After an all day shopping spree, we now feel like we are more prepared to have our baby. I'm glad Rustin was along to help choose items. Soon he will have no time to go shopping as he will be in the fields. Tomorrow we leave for Tremont, and sadly enough this will be the last time before the baby arrives. Just a side note: I have had dreams about the baby being either sex, so I think there is no clear sign as to what we are having. We will wait and see!

The Bat Fiasco

I really thought I was going to have to move before I was even in this house for one year. In an 8 day period we had 6 bats. Mostly they would come out at 3 or 4 in the morning. We were thankful for the tennis racket (and for Rustin). I think by the end he was sick of killing them. We found a company called Exclusive Bat Proofing on the Internet and called them up. We were put on a 2 week waiting list but given high hopes. Let me tell you, it was a long two weeks. They came the day we left for IL and did their job. As you can see, first there is proof of bats in our house. They put a 25 year sealant on all the cracks around our house, mainly on the roof. They also put up wire mesh doors, so the the bats already in the house could get out, but no new ones could get in. Thus far it has been a sucsessfull investment. I still cringe when I open the basement door, but I suppose in time, I will get over this. Unfortunately if you have bats and live outside of the state of MN you will have to find someone else to service your problem, as they only cater to Minnesotans.

Life otherwise has been hectic. Rustin is now hauling silage for the Dairy and does this when they need him from 4pm to 2am. I rode with him till midnight and decided I needed some sleep. I have been doing much canning and freezing in the past weeks. Since it has rained and temps are falling I have been helping my boss with his side job of seeding lawns in the afternoons and evenings. This explains the lack of updates. It's too bad that computers haven't advanced to where you think a thought and it types. Well maybe they have, but it hasn't reached MN yet.

Detroit Lakes

This is a picture of my two cute nieces. They seem to like each other. We had an enjoyable time at Detroit Lakes. On Saturday evening Dad S., Eric, Rustin and I went fishing. This was the first time I remember going fishing with die-hards. (minus Rustin) I caught a Northern, but unfortunately I don't have a picture of it. It got thrown back into the lake. We were on the lake for 3 hours. This was plenty long for me considering how many fish I caught. On Sunday afternoon we went to a flea market. We got some bargains and lots of sun. Other than this we mainly lazed around and went swimming. Very relaxing. This week has consisted of working in the mornings and canning and freezing beans and corn in the afternoons. Also I am currently in a pitch-all mood so there is major organizing going on. I got our brick-edge finished one afternoon, so now all we need is mulch and a little bit of rock. This weekend is the Stevens County Fair which is a mixture of the Tazewell County 4-H fair and the Tremont Turkey Festival, downsized. We plan to go there tonight and delight in greasy fair food. We leave tomorrow for Tremont for the weekend.

Wisconsin Dells

It's vacation time! On Wed. the 18 I went with my mother-in-law to St. Cloud to go shopping. By the way I was wanting to spend money, I could tell it was time for another shopping trip. Rustin met us there after work, and we headed down to the cities to stay at his Dad's work apartment. Thurs. morning we went to IKEA and some other little shops and then we met my family in the Dells. It had been awhile since I'd seen everyone so it was good to see them again. We stayed at the Tamarack resort, which I would recommend. It is a couple miles from the main drag, but it is very scenic and the traffic is much calmer. Besides, you have to drive practically everywhere on the main drag anyway. We crashed and bought a few groceries. We ate supper at Moosejaw Lodge. Good food. We tried their infamous mozz. sticks wrapped in egg rolls. Excellent! On Friday we mini-golfed and went to Riverworld Waterpark. Because of the baby I tried to tame down a little. Saturday we ate at Paul Bunyan's restaurant. After lunch we went to the Tommy Bartlett Show and played Bocce ball. In the evening Dad, Mom, Rustin, and I went to the Wisconsin Opry. We were among the youngest people there. After CD church on Sunday we went and rode the Original Wisconsin Ducks. They maneuver on land and water. Mom and I agreed this was our favorite part of the vacation. Check out these chicks!

We played more mini-golf that afternoon. On Monday Rustin, Bob, Susan, and Matt went to Mt. Olympus to enjoy water and themepark rides. Dad, Mom, and I decided we wouldn't get our money's worth, so we opted out. Mom and I went shopping instead and found some bargains. That evening we packed up to leave the next morning, bright and early. On the way home, Rustin and I stopped in Rochester to visit his uncle who had open heart surgery. He wasn't in Mayo clinic, but the nearby St. Mary's Hospital. After a short work week, it's hard to believe the weekend is already here. We are going with Rustin's family up to a cabin on Detroit Lakes for an extended weekend. It's too bad we can't vacation all summer!

Itasca State Park

First of all, here is our baby waving hi to you! July 4th seems like a while ago. Rustin was up at the firehall for a pancake and sausage breakfast at 6:00. I went up to eat with him at 8:30. Then we went back at noon for lunch and at 12:30 we set up barricades for the parade. Rustin drove a big 4 wheel drive tractor with an applicator and anhydrous tank pulling behind. I pulled the classic "Hancock drum" with the city pick-up. My father-in-law says that it was in the parade when he was a kid. It was fun, but I hardly knew anyone on the sidelines. Vern, my boss, rode with me, and his grandsons threw candy from the back. We went to Rustin's aunt and uncles for supper and then went to the Community sing. (we watched) In the evening Rustin helped light the fire works. It was a nice 80 some degrees but this is what he looked like.

I sat at the car and craned my neck to see the fireworks. Overall they were nice and loud. Since it is after the 4th my hours have been cut back to 7-12. Seems like my afternoons get filled with landscaping, garden stuff or other house chores. This past Friday and Saturday, Rustin and I took his parent's camper up to Itasca State Park and camped. This is where the Missisippi Headwaters are. It was very pretty. We also took our bikes and started down a 17 mile bike trail. 3 miles down we decided we had done enough hills so we headed back to our camp site. 6 miles was perfect for us.

On Sunday afternoon we went to Starbuck Beach for a picnic. Ginny Wulf and some girls from Gridley were up, as well as Curt and Norma Witzig and family. It was enjoyable to drive Brent's boat and to watch people freeze as they swam. This week is flying by, but as promised here is some pictures of our new landscape. To get the full picture, you'll have to come visit!

July 1, 2007

It seems like a long time since I have seen this computer. Same old thing. More painting of curbs, garbage cans and park benches - which I've been told isn't the best thing to do when pregnant. Hopefully after the 4th this will come to an end. Tomorrow and Tuesday will be long hours because of more setting up and sprucing up. After the 4th I have a feeling that things will slow down drastically. Last Friday I pulled a sweeper behind the town's pick-up. It took me 6 hours but was pretty enjoyable. More landscaping (trimming) has been done in the evenings so Rustin and I have been busy. We finally have our landscaping almost done. It looks much better to have the weeds covered and plants planted. Pictures will follow.

Last weekend Greg and Mary came up to visit. We spent the day in Alexandria shopping and mini-golfing. In the evening we had friends and relatives over for a weiner roast. We invited our friends Greg and Sheila Reuter, but they had their little baby boy on Friday night. So instead we went and visited them at the hospital. His name is Emerson Jerry Reuter. Last night we took them supper and mother and baby are doing pretty well. They say you don't know what lack of sleep is until you have kids. Sheila can attest to this. We are excited that our kids will be close to the same age and hopefully will atleast get along.

Hope you have a great 4th!!!